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At least 199 records · Page 11

Modeling Interfaces to Support Low-Level Waste Disposal System Performance Assessments - 20366

In low-level waste (LLW) disposal sites, interfaces between cementitious materials, used as waste forms and/or engineered barriers, and the surrounding soil or backfill material are often encountered. Reactions across these interfaces may lead to chemical and structural alteration of the cementitious and backfill materials that may ultimately affect long-term performance. For example, the ingress of carbon dioxide from soil gas into a waste tank concrete shell at the Hanford Site or Savannah River Site (SRS) or a low-level waste disposal vault at SRS leads to carbonation of cement hydration products (e.g. portlandite, calcium-silicate hydrate or C-S-H, and ettringite). The result of carbonation is a decrease in pH in the cement paste portion of the tank wall or vault concrete structure that could ultimately lead to de-passivation of the embedded structural steel and, eventually, to cracking. Cracking can lead to increased ingress of water into the structure, corresponding increased release of constituents of concern, and to subsequent increased transport of these constituents to the surrounding environment. The mobility of trace constituents (e.g., radionuclides of concern) in waste forms may increase in response to changes in pH, pore structure, and mineralogical gradients. Depletion of portlandite results in subsequent decalcification of C-S-H that leads to changes in the cement strength and may lead to structural failure. At the boundary between waste forms and concrete vaults, the migration of sulfate ions from the salt waste form (e.g., the saltstone waste form used for LLW disposal at the Savannah River Site in Saltstone Disposal Units, or SDUs) into the barrier or vault concrete has been predicted to result in expansive mineral phase formation (or 'sulfate attack'). Expansive mineral formation could result in cracking and potential loss of structural integrity in the vault concrete. In the performance assessment (PA) for the SRS SDUs, prediction of both the carbonation and sulfate attack fronts are critical to assessing the long-term performance of these LLW disposal vaults. A general purpose geochemical reactive transport model has been developed in LeachXS/ORCHESTRA to evaluate typical interfaces for LLW disposal environments, including SDUs at SRS. The model may be used to predict the long-term performance of interfaces between cementitious materials and saltstone or backfill materials with respect to primary phases by considering mass transport, cement chemistry, geochemical speciation, and multi-ionic diffusion over interfaces between different materials. The present study compares the performance and interactions between vault concrete and saltstone waste form for a representative SDU scenario. The materials were characterized using pH-dependence leaching test (EPA 1313) and semi-dynamic transport tests (EPA 1315) with test results used to parameterize the interface model. The development of a credible inter model provides an important basis for supporting future PAs where carbonation and sulfate attack are important aging and degradation mechanisms. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Selenium interaction with iron minerals: Quantitative comparison of sorption and coprecipitation impacts on mobility

Given the significance of selenium (Se) as a micronutrient, the radioactive nature of some of its isotopes, and its affinity to iron (Fe) minerals, extensive research has been conducted on the sorption mechanisms between Se and these minerals. Here, in this study, we employ sorption data sourced from the L-SCIE database and coprecipitation data from available literature to achieve the following objectives: i) establish coherence between adsorption and coprecipitation processes, ii) quantitatively evaluate the importance of these processes in nuclear waste repository science, and iii) propose a forward-looking approach for integrating coprecipitation into reactive transport models. Our findings indicate that a correlation between Se adsorption and coprecipitation can be established using the λ formalism. The comparable log(λ Se(IV) /λ Se(VI) ) ratios derived from adsorption and coprecipitation experiments suggest that these processes can be quantitatively compared and evaluated using our numerical approach. Across all iron oxide phases examined, coprecipitation leads to significantly greater immobilization of Se compared to adsorption. Specifically, for hydrous ferric oxide, hematite, and goethite, coprecipitation is predicted to result in 100–1000 times more Se immobilization compared to adsorption, irrespective of the Se oxidation state (Se(IV) or Se(VI)); notably stronger immobilization potential via coprecipitation was observed for magnetite. The modeling approach and quantitative analysis presented herein clearly highlight the importance of including coprecipitation processes when simulating Se (and other elements) transport, particularly under conditions where mineral compositions are transient or evolving with time. Neglecting coprecipitation in models is likely to lead to significant overestimates of migration.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Comprehensive parametric study of CO 2 sequestration in deep saline aquifers

Carbon dioxide injection in deep saline aquifers is a key method for permanently sequestering anthropogenic CO 2 . Here this study employs a reactive transport model to explore mineral precipitation/dissolution and its impact on reservoir properties in deep saline aquifers. We also assess capillary pressure and relative permeability hysteresis on various CO 2 trapping mechanisms. Results from this study reveal the significant influence of initial brine composition on mineral precipitation/dissolution. The dissolution and precipitation of minerals have different effects around the wellbores compared to the overall reservoir. Additionally, salt concentration (Ca ++ and Mg ++ ) and quartz surface area affect CO 2 mineralization, while Na + impacts halite precipitation, altering flow properties. The effect of capillary pressure is significant, as including the capillary pressure in the simulation case resulted in significantly improved CO 2 trapping, achieving almost total dissolution of the injected CO 2 in around 300 years. This study offers novel insights into the interactions of reservoir minerals, brine properties, and the injected CO 2 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Position-specific isotope effects during alkaline hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitroanisole resolved by compound-specific isotope analysis, 13 C NMR, and density-functional theory

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA), position-specific isotope analysis (PSIA), and computational modeling (e.g., quantum mechanical models; reactive-transport models) are increasingly being used to monitor and predict biotic and abiotic transformations of organic contaminants in the field. However, identifying the isotope effect(s) associated with a specific transformation remains challenging in many cases. We describe and interpret the position-specific isotope effects of C and N associated with a SN 2 Ar reaction mechanism by a combination of CSIA and PSIA using quantitative 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and density-functional theory, using 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) as a model compound. The position-specific 13 C enrichment factor of O–C 1 bond at the methoxy group attachment site (ε C1 ) was found to be approximately -41‰, a diagnostic value for transformation of DNAN to its reaction products 2,4-dinitrophenol and methanol. Theoretical kinetic isotope effects calculated for DNAN isotopologues agreed well with the position-specific isotope effects measured by CSIA and PSIA. This combination of measurements and theoretical predictions demonstrates a useful tool for evaluating degradation efficiencies and/or mechanisms of organic contaminants and may promote new and improved applications of isotope analysis in laboratory and field investigations.

13C NMR↗

Chemical impacts of subsurface CO 2 and brine on shallow groundwater quality

Leakage from geologic CO 2 sequestration (GCS) sites to overlying shallow drinking water aquifers is a tangible risk. A primary purpose of this study is to assess the potential impacts of CO 2 leakage into a fresh-water aquifer with associated CO 2 -water-sediment interactions. Here, the study site is the Ogallala aquifer overlying an active demonstration-scale GCS site in north Texas, USA. Using the results of combined batch experiments and reactive transport simulations, we discuss the effects of salinity on potential trace metal release and the potential for groundwater quality recovery after leakage ceases.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Numerical study of the chemo-mechanical behavior of FEBEX bentonite in nuclear waste disposal based on the Barcelona expansive model

Experimental studies show that compacted bentonite used as a backfill material for nuclear waste repository experiences strong coupling between chemical and mechanical processes. Here, we use a dual-structure expansive soil model, referred to as the Barcelona Expansive Model (BExM), to predict the behavior of bentonite buffer in subsurface emplacement tunnels for high-level radioactive waste. After emplacement, the bentonite is subjected to complex and coupled Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) processes. The BExM constitutive model is implemented in a multi-phase reactive transport and geomechanics simulator, TOUGHREACT-FLAC3D, and the model is verified with one benchmark test on FEBEX bentonite. We utilize a one-way Chemo-Mechanical (C-M) coupling approach, in which chemical changes affect the mechanical behavior of bentonite through the BExM linked with the evolution of mass fraction of smectite, exchangeable cation concentration, and ionic strength via osmotic suction. The parameters of the new coupled model for FEBEX bentonite are calibrated against a series of laboratory experiments with various salinity solutions. Finally, coupled THMC modeling is conducted for a generic argillite repository with bentonite buffer under high temperature, focusing on the long-term chemical change and its effect on the mechanical process.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Citation for the 2019 Victor M. Goldschmidt award to Donald J. DePaolo

Perhaps the comments most commonly heard when a colleague receives professional recognition are “well-deserved” and “long-overdue”. As such, it is my pleasure to introduce Donald DePaolo as the recipient of this year’s Goldschmidt Award as it is both long-overdue and so well-deserved. While Don has received many honors over the course of his career, the Goldschmidt best recognizes his broad impact on geochemistry. There are few who have contributed as much to geochemistry as Don DePaolo. Finally, his scientific contributions are voluminous and broad, ranging from pioneering efforts to establish the Sm/Nd isotopic system, and its applications to mantle evolution and basalt petrogenesis, to studies of magma mixing, assimilation and crystal fractionation, to evolution of the lower crust and granite petrogenesis, to chemical oceanography, diagenesis and seafloor alteration, to reactive transport accompanying rock-water interaction, and to kinetic isotopic fractionation associated with crystal growth, diffusion and evaporation.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Sodium diffusion in heterogeneous porous media: Connecting laboratory experiments and simulations

Sodium has been suggested as a tracer for brine in reservoir formations where a significant amount of sodium ion is found mainly in the aqueous phase. Fortunately, the most abundant sodium isotope, 23 Na, is Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) active, making it possible to study the structure and dynamical properties of both bulk and pore confined fluid systems. We investigated the diffusion of key dissolved sodium species in bulk solution and porous media as a function of composition, ionic strength, and permeability of the carbonate samples using NMR relaxometry and pulsed-field gradient (PFG) NMR techniques. We use Indiana limestone as an example of natural porous media and water as a freely diffusible tracer and carrier. We demonstrate apparent diffusion measurement of sodium based on changes in spin–spin relaxation time (T 2 ) signal in pore confinement. The diffusion rate of sodium decreases with increasing counter-ion size. This effect is greater at higher ionic strengths and lower chemical potentials in porous media. The reactive transport code, CrunchFlow, was used to complement the NMR experiments to simulate diffusion behavior in porous media. Combining these two methods provides a powerful approach to estimating effective diffusion coefficients in heterogeneous matrices. The modeling considers the influence of physical properties (porosity and tortuosity) and chemical properties (geochemical composition and chemical gradients). The results presented in this work highlight the advantage of measuring apparent diffusivity using NMR T 2 relaxometry in conjunction with numerical simulation to derive effective diffusivity and the corresponding matrix properties (i.e., tortuosity) of the system.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

A micromechanical hydro-mechanical-damage coupled model for layered rocks considering multi-scale structures

An anisotropic Hydro-Mechanical-Damage coupled model was established in the framework of thermodynamics for saturated layered rocks, which contain arbitrarily-distributed cracks of smaller scales and orientated bedding planes of much larger scales. Here, the proposed model considers the anisotropic damage growth and frictional sliding of cracks and shear sliding and dilatancy of bedding planes, as well as the interaction between cracks and bedding planes. Numerical implementation of the nonlinear coupled model was developed based on TOUGHREACT, which is a well-established simulator for multiphase fluid flow and reactive transport analysis. The proposed model was first validated with laboratory water injection test results on rock blocks, and then used to study the effects of injection rates, in situ stresses and bedding planes on fluid injection processes at the field scale, demonstrating the importance to consider the variation of multi-scale structures for better understanding the coupled Hydro-Mechanical responses in layered rocks.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Effects of flow on uranium speciation in soils impacted by acidic waste fluids

Radioactive acidic liquid waste is a common byproduct of uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) enrichment and recycling processes whose accidental and planned release has led to a significant input of U into soils and sediments across the world, including at the U.S. DOE's Hanford site (WA, USA). Because of the particularly hazardous nature of U, it is important to predict its speciation when introduced into soils and sediments by acidic waste fluids. Of fundamental importance are the coupled effects of acid-driven mineral transformation and reactive transport on U speciation. To evaluate the effect of waste-fluid residence time and co-associated dissolved phosphate concentrations on U speciation in impacted soils and sediments, uncontaminated surface materials (from the Hanford Site) were reacted with U-containing synthetic acidic waste fluids (pH 2) amended with dissolved phosphate concentrations in both batch (no flow) and flow-through column systems for 7–365 days. By comparing dissolved U behavior and solid phase speciation as a function of flow regimen, we found that the availability of proton-promoted dissolution products (such as Si) to sequester U into uranyl silicates was dependent on waste fluid-sediment contact time as uranyl silicates were not detected in short contact time flow-through systems but were detected in no-flow, long contact time, reactors. Moreover, the dominance of uranyl phosphate as neoprecipitate U scavenger (principally in the form of meta-ankoleite) in phosphate amended systems confirmed the importance of phosphate amendments for an efficient sequestration of U in the soils and sediments. Overall, our experiments suggest that the formation of uranyl silicates in soils impacted by acidic waste fluids is likely to be limited unless reaction products are allowed to accumulate in soil pores, highlighting the importance of investigating soil U speciation in flow-through, transport-driven systems as opposed to no-flow, batch systems. Finally, this study provides insights into uranium speciation and its potential changes under acidic conditions for better prediction of risks and subsequent development of efficient remediation strategies.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Interfacial and Confinement-Mediated Organization of Gas Hydrates, Water, Organic Fluids, and Nanoparticles for the Utilization of Subsurface Energy and Geological Resources

Harnessing the subsurface geologic environments in an efficient and environmentally sustainable manner is challenged by uncertainties associated with predicting the fate of fluids and sustaining porosity and permeability in subsurface geologic environments. Some of these uncertainties arise from confined and interfacially induced structures of fluids in subsurface geologic environments. The formation of gas hydrates, phase transitions of confined fluids, assembly and deposition of heavy hydrocarbons, and the agglomeration and fate of nanoparticles in confined environments are summarized in this review. Nanoscale confinement contributes to anisotropic structures and dynamics of fluids, which is the basis for anomalous phase transition thermodynamics, reactivity, transport, and geomechanical behavior. In this review, we discuss the structures of confined fluids and deviation in observed properties from bulk fluids. The factors influencing the structures of confined fluids can be generally divided into two groups: (a) pore characteristics including pore size, pore surface chemistry, and pore geometry and (b) confined fluid/solid characteristics such as molecular structure, concentrations, charges, pore filling, and presence of additives. Scientific advancements and knowledge gaps in our understanding of the structures of confined fluids and the associated differences in observed properties compared to bulk fluids are discussed. Here, the phenomena discussed in this review are of particular relevance to our efforts in harnessing the subsurface environments for a low carbon future by increasing the utilization of geothermal energy, using CO 2 as a working fluid, and storing CO 2 in subsurface geologic environments.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Thin Water Films Enable Low-Temperature Magnesite Growth Under Conditions Relevant to Geologic Carbon Sequestration

Injecting supercritical CO2 (scCO2) into basalt formations for long-term storage is a promising strategy for mitigating CO2 emissions. Mineral carbonation can result in permanent entrapment of CO2; however, carbonation kinetics in thin H2O films in humidified scCO2 is not well understood. We investigated forsterite (Mg2SiO4) carbonation to magnesite (MgCO3) via amorphous magnesium carbonate (AMC; MgCO3·xH2O, 0.5 < x < 1), with the goal to establish the fundamental controls on magnesite growth rates at low H2O activity and temperature. Experiments were conducted at 25, 40, and 50 °C in 90 bar CO2 with a H2O film thickness on forsterite that averaged 1.78 ± 0.05 monolayers. In situ infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor forsterite dissolution and the growth of AMC, magnesite, and amorphous SiO2 as a function of time. Geochemical kinetic modeling showed that magnesite was supersaturated by two to three orders of magnitude and grew according to a zero-order rate law. The results indicate that the main drivers for magnesite growth are sustained high supersaturation coupled with low H2O activity, a combination of thermodynamic conditions not attainable in bulk aqueous solution. This improved understanding of reaction kinetics can inform subsurface reactive transport models for better predictions of CO2 fate and transport.

Kerisit, Sebastien N.↗

Sulfate Promotes Compact CaCO 3 Formation and Protects Portland Cement from Supercritical CO 2 Attack

Supercritical (sc) CO 2 in geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) can chemically and mechanically deteriorate wellbore cement, raising concerns for long-term operations. In contrast to the conventional view of “sulfate attack” on cement, we found that adding 0.15 M sulfate to the acidic brine can significantly reduce the impact of scCO 2 attack on Portland cement, resulting in stronger cement than that found in a sulfate-free system. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a decreased total attack depth in reacted cement in the presence of sulfate. With a newly defined minimum porosity term in reactive transport modeling, our model suggests that sulfate caused CaCO 3 to fill more nanopore spaces in the cement. Small angle X-ray scattering experiments also showed that sulfate can decrease the pore sizes of the carbonate layer. The results suggest that the interactions between sulfate and cement can generate a less porous CaCO 3 layer, which better resists acidic brine. Using this mechanism as a proof-of-concept, we tested the incorporation of sodium sulfate into Portland cement and synthesized new cement composites that show stronger resistance against scCO 2 attacks. Finally, these newly discovered interfacial interactions between CaCO 3 and sulfate provide new insights into engineering mechanically strong and green materials for safer GCS.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Hydrological Controls on Riverbed Methane Emissions: A Numerical Investigation of Hydrodynamic and Ebullitive Mechanisms from Site to Basin Scales

Methane production and emission from riverbed sediments constitute a significant yet underexplored component of the river methane budget. Despite their importance, a mechanistic and quantitative understanding of these processes under dynamic flow conditions remains elusive, particularly at the basin scale. In this study, we investigate the multiscale (site-to-basin) mechanisms governing methane emissions from riverbeds, focusing on the interplay between biogeochemical processes and hydrological dynamics. We developed a reactive transport model that integrates methane production with hydrodynamic and ebullitive pathways and coupled it with a basin-scale groundwater flow model to simulate methane emissions across scales. By incorporating key factors such as vertical hydrological exchange flow (VHEF), particulate organic carbon availability, sediment properties, and temperature sensitivity, our model captures the spatiotemporal variability of methane ebullition at both the site and basin scales. Our results reveal that methane ebullition is strongly modulated by VHEF, with lower flow rates promoting methane accumulation and subsequent ebullition. Sensitivity analyses underscore nonlinear responses of methane fluxes to environmental drivers. Furthermore, these findings emphasize the critical roles of sediment composition, hydrological exchange, and environmental conditions in shaping methane dynamics. Overall, this work advances our understanding of riverine methane emissions and offers insights for guiding climate models and mitigation strategies.

Fluxes↗

Short-Term Inhibition and Long-Term Enhancement of Irreversible Trace Metal Binding to Goethite in Multi-Metal Systems

Iron (oxyhydr)oxide minerals are important sorbents of trace metals in aquatic environments. Adsorption–desorption hysteresis has been documented for trace metals after aging, suggesting that they become incorporated over time. We previously found that ion size controls the extent of irreversible metal binding of single metals to goethite. In this study, we evaluate how the presence of multiple metals influences irreversible binding. Mixed Ni–Zn and Ni–Cd solutions were aged with goethite at pH 7 for 2 days, 30 days, and 60 days, after which isotope exchange experiments were performed to assess the lability of the adsorbed metal pools. After 2 days of aging, Ni and Cd in mixed-metal systems were more labile than in single-metal systems, indicating that competitive adsorption may partially block irreversible binding on short time scales. After 60 days, all three metals had larger irreversibly bound fractions than in single-metal systems. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy indicates that irreversibly bound fractions correlate with incorporation into goethite. This study demonstrates that pools of coadsorbed metals are bioaccessible on a time scale of minutes. Cooperative effects promote the structural sequestration of even large trace metals, causing reactive transport models to likely overpredict metal mobility. Long-term metal entrapment processes hinder micronutrient availability, impact contaminant sequestration and critical mineral recovery, and yield complex pathways through which metal solubilization may be enhanced or hindered during redox cycling.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Ion-Specific Effects on PuO 2 Nanoparticle Aggregation and Dissolution in Concentrated Electrolytes

Hydrolytic PuO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) are a dominant aqueous Pu-bearing phase in high ionic strength nuclear wastes, yet their reactivity in nonideal brines remains poorly constrained. We quantify how electrolyte identity and concentration control PuO 2 NP aggregation and ligand-assisted dissolution in acidic, high salinity solutions (NaCl, NaNO 3 , NaClO 4 , Na 2 SO 4 , Na 2 C 2 O 4 up to 5 M). A multitechnique workflow combining liquid scintillation counting (operationally defined aqueous [Pu]), scattering/electrokinetic measurements (aggregate size and zeta potential), and spectroscopy (UV–vis, XPS, Raman) resolves electrolyte-dependent partitioning between colloidal and molecular Pu species. Weakly coordinating anions (ClO 4 – , Cl – , NO 3 – ) largely preserve the (aggregated) nanoparticulate fraction but generate distinct dissolved species at high concentration, i.e., Pu(IV)–nitrato complexes in NaNO 3 and Pu(VI)–chloro complexes in NaCl. In contrast, stronger ligands substantially perturb PuO 2 NP stability: sulfate promotes partial dissolution to Pu(IV)–sulfate complexes at low concentration but reduces aqueous [Pu] at higher sulfate levels via secondary Pu(IV) sulfate formation, whereas oxalate drives strong dissolution to aqueous Pu–oxalate complexes. Aged NPs show similar trends with reduced aqueous fractions and more dominant aggregation mechanisms. In conclusion, these spectroscopically constrained speciation data provide a foundation for incorporating PuO 2 NP reactivity into thermodynamic and reactive transport models for high salinity waste and brine environments.

Aggregation↗

How are Heterogeneous Nucleation Rate Observations Influenced by Instrument Resolution?

Experimental measurements of the heterogeneous nucleation rate rely on counting the number of nuclei with time. However, the size of a thermodynamically stable nucleus is often a few nanometers in diameter and is below the resolution of most (in situ) measurement techniques that provide a statistically valid sample. Due to the finite resolution of the instruments and analysis methods, it is challenging to capture the incipient nuclei and the subsequent evolution of nuclei density over time. In this work, we demonstrate the impact of instrument resolution on observed nuclei densities by comparing numerical modeling with experimental results. Further, to achieve this, we implemented heterogeneous nucleation within the pore-scale reactive transport modeling framework using classical nucleation theory (CNT). We compared the modeling results with nucleation rates measured using X-ray nanotomography (XnT) and evaluated how these impact the apparent values of the prefactor and interfacial energy based on CNT and the crystal growth rate. Specifically, we applied a resolution threshold (artificial resolution limit) in the model during nuclei counting to resemble an experimental resolution, ranging from 15 to 500 nm. The findings reveal that the instrument resolution significantly impacts the apparent prefactor and interfacial energy. Both apparent prefactor and interfacial energy decrease with a decrease in the instrument resolution. While deviation in the prefactor due to resolution is anticipated, those in the interfacial energy are unexpected. The approach described here allows one to correct apparent nucleation rates that depend on the instrument’s resolution to derive “intrinsic” CNT parameters for the prefactor and interfacial energy.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗